News

The Saving Lives project launched at the beginning of the war by Metinvest and DTEK in concert with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation has provided food packages to 9,000 utility workers of 18 utility companies in Zaporizhia.

While the Armed Forces of Ukraine are defending the Ukrainian cities and towns on the front line, Metinvest Group is helping civilians on the homefront. Over 282,000 Ukrainians have already benefited from the Saving Lives humanitarian project.

Packages with pasta, sweets, cereals, flour, and other food products are provided to IDPs, vulnerable groups of population, families of conscripted employees of Metinvest, welfare beneficiaries, and retired employees of the company's enterprises. The humanitarian assistance is also available to the residents in the newly liberated areas and the frontline cities and towns, as they have faced a difficult situation and have to live under constant shelling.

Recently, Metinvest has expanded its efforts under the Saving Lives project. The food assistance will be provided to 9,000 employees of 18 utility companies in Zaporizhia. Holding the homefront, these people continue to restore the infrastructure and keep order, support the vitality and viability of the city, which is under constant shelling.

“Today utility workers are doing a very important job to support the vitality and viability of the entire city. Despite the constant shelling, destruction and danger to life, they are the first to provide help and rebuild the infrastructure, restore electricity and heating supply to homes of Zaporizhia residents,” stated Operational Improvement Director of Metinvest's Zaporizhstal Oleksandr Borysov. He added: “Metinvest Group has provided food assistance as part of the Saving Lives project to support these brave and professional workers who remain loyal to their home city. Within a week, every utility worker will be able to receive a food package, and these are about 9,000 people.”

Employees of Vodokanal water supply company were the first to receive the food packages,
2,350 survival kits in total.

"Our utility workers are real heroes. The situation is very difficult in Zaporizhia, which is located on the frontline. Unfortunately, many people have left the city. Utility workers have not left, hold the line, and work 24/7 to ensure that the city is still alive. We are grateful to Metinvest Group, DTEK, and the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, which have provided the humanitarian assistance to Vodokanal water supply company and other utilities," stated CEO of Vodokanal Andriy Shapoval.

Viacheslav Nesvat, repairman at Vodokanal water supply company:
“On 7 October, a Russian missile struck near my house in Shevchenko District. My balcony is just opposite the place where it landed. The frames and windows in my apartment have been broken. Everything needs to be replaced. This humanitarian assistance has come in good time for me. I guess this food package will last for a long time.”

Mykola Ovdienko, head of automated process control systems at central sewage treatment facilities:
“My family members have gone to Poland and Germany, and I'm still here, in the city. Today we the public utilities workers take a big responsibility. We must stay at our workplaces to ensure that everything in the city continues to operate. This food kit will last for a long time. These are tough times, and everyone needs to help one another.”

Viktor Yeskov, foreman of repair service, Vodokanal public utility No. 1
“None of our repair crew members has been evacuated. We've sent our women and children out of the city, but we're staying and continue to work. There are no other workers to replace us. I have two daughters and a grandson: one went to the Western Ukraine, and the other went to Germany. I never thought about evacuation from the city. We've been through different things like power outage, but we continue to work. This food package will come in handy. I thank you for this help, it's very nice.”

Natalia Kalashnikova, operator of the central sewage treatment plant:
“All my crew members remain in Zaporizhia. I won't go anywhere either, because utilities are my front. I know my job and I must do it here.”